Andy Burnham says non-compete legislation would be a "Bosman ruling for the innovation sector"

Speaking at an innovation conference in Manchester on Friday, Andy Burnham said the government would legislate so that non-compete agreements no longer obstruct hiring at promising young and expanding companies. He said these restrictions, which bar former employees from joining a competitor or starting their own business, hold back innovation and leave workers waiting unpaid. People in the everyday and foundational parts of the economy would also be protected, he added. The Bosman ruling, a European Court of Justice case, established that footballers could change clubs once their contracts expired. Burnham also announced three measures aimed at making Britain a leading hub for innovation, set a goal of a major scientific advance within a decade — naming cancer, dementia and nuclear fusion — and hinted at tax incentives before an October 28 budget.